Chapter 1
Age 21
I’m smiling like a fool at my phone as I read the messages over and over. I feel like a crazy person as my cheeks ache and my jaw tenses. I tuck a strand of my long brown hair behind my ear and can’t help but do a little excited dance, letting out a squeal. I haven’t gotten this close to a guy before, and the flirting awakens something hungry inside of me.
I might be slightly desperate for attention. You would be too if every attempt you’ve ever made to have a boyfriend was shut down. Ruined before it ever even had a chance to begin.
Now I’m thinking of him. Storm Moreno. My smile falls from my face, and a sadness from the past threatens to creep in. I nibble my lip. I know the way I treat Storm isn’t fair, but…I have no choice.
I push aside all thoughts of Storm and look back at my phone. Any guy who finds himself attracted to me has to be brave enough to face off against my brother and his best friend, who are both excessively protective of me. Not that I can blame them. Uncle Eli took a lot from me, and them.
William, my big brother, is a little bit…well, there’s not a nice way to say it. He’s antisocial, just like dad. It’s mild. At least, that”s what I tell myself. I love my brother dearly, and he would kill for me.
He and his best friend both.
A shiver travels down my spine, but I ignore it. If you want to talk about antisocial, Storm is the king. But he was made, not born, like my brother. He uses his pain like a shield around himself. He’s the only person my brother trusts to protect me.
William was supposed to attend Crystal River University this year, but skipped out once again in favor of following Papa to Europe. He left Storm behind as protection for me.
I don’t ask what they do. Not anymore. I know the kind of business that my father runs, and I know my brother is his right-hand man. Just as Storm is Will’s. Storm solidified his place in my family”s life when he was sixteen.
That night should have been the turning point between us, and in some ways it was. But sometimes when I look at Storm, all I see is blood. His blood. I feel like that fifteen-year-old kid again. Abandoned by the people she needed most. No matter how many times I try to tell myself that was never their intention, I never quite manage to believe it.
Once again shaking off thoughts of my nemesis, I focus back on the conversation.
I’ll be honest, when Eric asked for my phone number, I thought he was confusing me for someone else.
No one ever hits on me. No one would dare.
I’m a junior here at CRU, and no one has ever asked me on a date. Well, I guess I’ve been asked, but once my brother’s best friend scares them away, they always chicken out. The school we attend doesn’t have many programs I’m interested in, but it does have business. I don’t know what I want to do once I graduate, but I figured I couldn’t go wrong with business.
Unfortunately, it also has Storm Moreno. Storm may not be Papa’s son, but he’s still deadly and loyal to a fault. He’s everyone’s favorite bad boy and my brother”s BFF. He’s also the bane of my damn existence.
“If you think you can belong to another man, you’re fucking mistaken, Roxanne.”
I shiver and hiss at the memory of his warning, before rubbing my arms as if I could wipe away all traces of him. Storm can’t reach everyone on campus. Our college isn’t as small as our high school was. No matter how well-known he and my brother are. Right?
Eric: You looked beautiful this morning.
I smile at his text, nibbling my lip.
Me: When did you see me?
I don’t remember seeing him…to be honest, I haven’t seen him in person since the day he asked me for my number. Texts and calls only. He’s super busy with classes, and I’m super busy with avoiding Storm, but we have a plan to meet up tonight at the costume party. It’s not Halloween, but it’s college. We will take any excuse to dress up. This party is celebrating a basketball game or something. I’m not entirely sure, since sports are just not my thing.
Eric: When you were on your way to class. I would have said hi, but I was in a hurry.
That”s fair. I was on my way to eat and distracted by the evil death glare Storm was shooting at me.
There’s this extra layer of excitement that feels like I’m getting away with something bad by talking to Eric. Because if Storm knew, he’d intervene. He’d stop me.
He’d scare Eric away just like all the rest.
Eric: Do you have your costume yet?
Me: Yes. Do you?
Eric: Of course. I’ve had it for a while now.
Me: That excited, huh?
I’m teasing him, but he only asked me to attend the party with him ten days ago.
Eric: Excited to see you in that mini skirt? Always. I have to go, remember where to meet me?
Me: Yes!
I tuck my phone back into my bag and head into the coffee shop. I have about an hour before my next class, and I need fuel.
* * *
I love dancing,closing my eyes and just getting lost in the rhythm. I’ve never been professionally trained or anything that exciting. I just enjoy it. I sneak away to parties or clubs every chance I get, usually with my best friend April. She also loves dancing, but sometimes I think she just enjoys dancing with men.
Sometimes, I blast my music and dance around my apartment as I clean. I take lots of opportunities to dance. And even though tonight isn’t about dancing, I’m almost as excited to get the chance as I am to meet up with Eric.
Tonight, I’m a sexy ballerina, and Eric will be the Phantom of the Opera.
I place my mask over my face and admire the white satin. I look hot. The white one-piece I”m wearing has buttons so I can pee if I need to without having to basically get naked, and the white wrap skirt I wear is slightly see-through, but I wear these all the time.
I’m comfortable with my body and love wearing clothes that I feel cute in.
As I put my red lipstick on, I wonder if tonight will be the night I finally lose my virginity. I’ve kissed a few boys before but never been able to go further than that.
When you have a scary big brother, and he has a best friend prone to extreme violence, everyone steers clear.
No one is innocent in our family. Not even me, but I’m harmless compared to my brother.
I head out of my dorm and make my way to the parking lot on campus. I’m catching a ride share with a few of the other girls who are also heading to the party. Eric said he’d give me a ride home at the end of the night.
It’s nice out in the middle of April in Arizona. At least tonight it is anyway. There’s a breeze, and I look up at the stars, admiring the night sky.
I love it here. I grew up on the East Coast, and it felt like there was always snow, even in summer. Of course, there wasn’t, but still.
I hate snow. It reminds me of a time in my life when I felt helpless. Mom died when I was eleven. To keep me away from his dangerous lifestyle, Papa had me move in with Mama’s brother.
I was with him for four long years. Years that still haunt me.
Now I hate being cold. Any extreme temperature is loathsome. I don’t like less than sixty-nine, or more than seventy-five. Even my showers are barely warmer than body temperature.
“Oh, my gosh, you’re adorable!” one of the girls I’m sharing a car with squeals as I approach the pickup spot.
“Thanks.” I blush, tucking my hair behind my ear.
Thankfully the drive to the party isn’t a long one, and as my nerves kick up a notch, I text Eric that I’m here.
The house is huge with multiple levels and massive windows. It looks like the kind of mansion you see on TV. It’s nice, but it’s too over the top. I wouldn’t want to live here. You’d definitely need to hire people to clean, maybe even multiple people. The kitchen is probably nice. I wouldn’t mind cooking so much if my kitchen was bigger.
Granted, the only reason I’m in my little studio is because that”s where I want to live. If Papa had his way, I’d be in a mansion just like this one. But I don’t want that. I don”t want to feel like I live in a house so large that three other people could be comfortably living somewhere else in the same space, and I’d never come across them. I feel lonely enough as it is in my studio sometimes, a vast empty palace like this would make me miserable.
I make my way around the side of the house, following the paved path to an open gate, and head into the large backyard. Eric said to meet him by the door to the pool house.
Not many people are out here, so I take a few moments to compose myself as I wait for Eric. Checking my phone I see that Eric hasn’t messaged me back yet. I look up when I hear footsteps nearby and smile.
He hasn’t messaged back, because he’s already here.
“Hi,” I say, smiling at him and waving. I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been. I guessed his intentions when he told me to meet him at the pool house, but now that I’m here…
Eric is tall with black hair and a muscular build. Even though I can’t see his face because of the mask, I know this is Eric. Who else could it be?
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and nods his head to me.
“Hi.” He keeps his voice low, but I don’t mind. It’s sexy. I bite my lower lip and take a step toward him. The elegant black tux he’s wearing looks good on him. His muscles seem larger than I remember, and I thought he was a little shorter, but still. He looks amazing. I just wish I could see his face. “Let”s go in,” he says, and at first, I think he means the party, but then he steps toward the pool house door. This is it. The moment I’ve been waiting for. I think.
“Isn’t it locked?” I ask as I step next to him.
“I have a key.” He flashes it, and I take one last glance at the party before walking into the pool house with Eric. “I just wanted a moment alone with you,” he says quietly, holding his hand out to me. I take it, allowing him to pull me against his chest. “You look beautiful, Roxy.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, feeling super shy now that it’s just the two of us in here. Reaching up, Eric removes my mask, smiling down at me.
“So I can see your beautiful eyes,” he says, as he cups my cheek and pulls me into him, pressing a kiss to my lips. He’s warm and smells so good. The way he holds me to him feels right, and I lean further into the kiss. I’m clumsy at first, learning how he moves. I haven’t done this much.
“Can I take your mask off?” I whisper, pulling away from the kiss, but he shakes his head, catching my hand as I lift it to remove the mask.
“Not yet.” He pushes me back until I fall onto the couch. I watch as he lowers to his knees, spreading my thighs to make room for his large frame. My mouth pops open, and my eyes go wide.
“What are you–”
“Shhh, lie back and enjoy. Close your eyes,” he demands, his voice deep and alluring. It caresses something inside me that”s been begging to be touched. So I do as he says, lying back as I spread my thighs. “Naughty little slut,” he murmurs, making my eyes pop open, but he tisks, so I slam them shut. I don’t want him to stop, even as my cheeks flame red.
“No one has ever…”
“I know, Roxy. No one ever has, and no one else ever will. Just me,” he growls, and I nibble my lip. I like this possessive side of him, even if we are so new. It’s okay to pretend for a little while. I like Eric, but not enough for him to be the only guy I do this with. At least, not yet.
I shiver as his fingers trail up my inner thigh, and I hold onto the couch cushions with all my might. He follows his fingers with his lips, kissing me gently.
I shake, as he brushes against my most sensitive part, undoes the buttons of my one-piece, and moves the bits of fabric aside.
“White panties, Roxy? Did you wear these just for me?” he practically snarls, and I can’t understand why he sounds so angry all of a sudden. I lift my head, but pause when he clicks his tongue in disapproval.
I lie back, clearing my throat.
“N-no. I didn’t know we’d do this.”
“But didn’t you? You must have guessed this is what I wanted. What I had planned for you.” He doesn’t give me time to respond. Instead, he tugs my panties aside, his mouth covers my center, and he licks.
My back arches, and I moan as he circles my clit, before thrusting into my slit.
“Oh god.” I release my grip on the couch, and thrust it into his hair, tugging. He hisses the harder I tug, doubling his efforts. I come embarrassingly quickly, screaming out my orgasm.
The name that slips from between my lips on a whisper isn’t Eric. But it causes the man between my thighs to growl when he hears my cry of pleasure as I whisper, “Storm…”
I slap a hand over my mouth, keeping my eyes shut. God, did Eric hear me? What have I done? Why was I thinking about that fucking asshole?
Eric trails a kiss to my thigh, then bites. Hard. So hard I cry out from the sudden pain and try shoving his head back. Fuck, fuck, fuck, he must have heard me!
“Ow!” I cry, tears stinging my eyes, and when he finally releases me, I slam my legs closed. Was that a punishment for saying another man”s name? I’m about to curse him for the bite when he tosses my mask in my lap.
“Compose yourself,” he snaps and then stomps out of the pool house. I do as he says quickly, tugging my mask on over my head, buttoning my one piece, and rushing outside after him.
My mind is racing, and all I can think about is his mouth between my legs and the way he touched me.
The way he called me slut. My knees are weak, and they shake. My heels are too high for this level of nerves. I’ve barely made myself come, and no man has ever eaten me out before.
That was the most exhilarating moment of my life. I’ve never felt more…on fire? Oh god, I want to grab his hand and drag him back in there with me. I want him to show me how to return the favor.
I said Storm’s name though. I wince. Fuck, I really hope he didn’t hear that. I said it so quietly… It was really more of a whisper.
“Eric?” I ask, trying to keep up with his long strides. He grunts but doesn’t slow down or stop. “Is everything okay?” I ask. Another grunt.